Kurtis' Arch1390 Blog

To showcase my final design I chose to employ the use of website design, based around notions of minimalism ensuring my design is accentuated. Minimalism in web design revolves the around core concept of stripping down a design to its bare essentials. The principles of minimalist web design are key to understanding a good minimal website; these include the need to neglect all needless features including designs, content and functions, the removal of all elements until the design is running on bare essentials, minimal use of colour and effective use of white spaces throughout the website. This design format is very common throughout portfolio websites due to its ability to highlight features of a website which in their case is the work of the websites owner.

Glenn Murcutt is an Australian architect whose motto, ‘touch the earth lightly’, convinces him to design his works with a minimal impact to the surrounding environment. Murcutt pays close attention to factors such as wind direction, temperature and light surrounding his sites before he designs the building itself which is linked strongly to my current project and its hypothesis. As stated in the Pritzer Prize announcement, Murcutt is, “an innovative architectural technician who is capable of turning his sensitivity to the environment and to locality into forthright, totally honest, non-showy works of art.”

(About images from top left to bottom right) The first image shows the implementation of a set ofsolar panels which was an obvious inclusion into the design through creating green energy. Louvre’s have been introduced within the buildings structure after researching Harry Seidler’s Grosvenor Place Building in Sydney which implements these as a way to eliminate unwanted sky glare opposed to the use of conventional sun shades. A Skylight has been employed as it will allow natural light to flow into the house. A water tank was added after research into Glenn Murcutt’s designs which often features water tanks for water usage throughout the house. Through smart, innovative design the house features good cross ventilation through the house with large opening either end of the house capturing cooling winds throughout summer months.

The East Brighton Compact Green House uses a timber lined curved roof peels upwards at the front and rear of the house allows maximum use of solar elements heatings and cooling the house. Sustainability principles are fundamental to the building and site design. Waste water treatment is integrated with landscaping, including an ornamental reed bed at the entrance. The open space living area minimises dark spaces within the house and opening either end forming a wind tunnel perfect for summer.